Attorney General Greg Smith SC has announced that making false allegations in order to obtain a personal violence order against a neighbour, co-worker, or stranger will become a criminal offence.

The proposed changes follow an interim review of frivolous and vexatious apprehended personal violence orders, which was tabled in the NSW parliament last month.

Apprehended Personal Violence Orders (APVOs) differ from Domestic Violence orders and can only be used when the victim is not in a “domestic relationship” with the alleged perpetrator.

The proposed changes to the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 will make it an offence to give a false or misleading statement in an application for an apprehended personal violence order.

 

23 October 2013